Caledonia

Java Labour In New

Sending Home Francs and Dollars

Piom Our Own Correspondent

Noumea, May 20.

THE New Caledonian Immigration De partment has in hand 6J million Paci fic francs, with which to repatriate Javanese who wish to return from in dentured labour to their country; but, owing to the increased shipping costs since 1945, something like 40 millions now are necessary to carry out repatriation in accordance with the conditions agreed upon with the Indonesian authorities.

The money probably will be borrowed through the central fund of the French Overseas Territories. Efforts are being made to find ships to transport the Javanese home without delay.

The Indonesian journal, Java Bode, of February 23, published a full and fair report on present conditions in New Cale donia for Javanese immigrants, contrast ing them most favourably with the old and universally condemned “coolie” con tracts.

The journal adds that to-day the Javanese have no difficulty in trans ferring home their franc or dollar savings, the Consulate having obtained a satisfactory arrangement to this end Furthermore, they are allowed to take back with them, untaxed, all sorts of use ful articles they have been able to buy abroad, among them a great number of electric sewing machines, cameras and projectors, watches and so on, represent ing a profit in overseas exchange of over a million. Wages have increased con siderably—above all, in the mines, where little labour would otherwise be offering.

The paper gives the present total Javanese population in New Caledonia as 8,000, compared with 24,000 Europeans and 30,000 natives.

Labour conditions in the New Hebrides are classed as “most favourable.”

The information was furnished bv M.

Verkuyl, Dutch Consul in Noumea, to the Indonesian Press.

Mr. A. M. L. Benjamin has been pro moted to the post of Assistant Govern ment Storekeeper, Fiji.